Little Moments, Big Memories

Well as of today, we (the bloggy day in london writers) have 18 days in Europe, 11 days in London, only 2 and a little more weeks left...

basically the clock's a tickin'.

Even though we've had huge experiences in Scotland, Liverpool, the Wells, Glastonbury and all over London, some of my favorite memories are the

unexpected moments

New friend: Daniel Cooper (son of Prof. Cooper)

Age: 4

Why we're friends: We spent 4 hours on the train ride to Scotland searching for Tree Castles, quoting Finding Nemo, playing D.J. Dan on my ipod and so much more.

Featuring: Alex Boye (singer for the Reflection's of Christ CD)

Age: unknown

Not only did he surprise us at our fireside the other Sunday, but I was singing that night too. I got to sing for him!! I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life!

New Friend: Michaela Ball

Age: 20

Home: New Zealand

I met Michaela at the Hyde Park ward on our first Sunday in Relief Society. We just happened to start talking and turns out we were meant to be great friends. She joined us last Saturday for shopping, salads from Chop'd in Selfridges (the Harrods for Locals. yes we are now "locals.") and then to Piccadilly Circus for Ben's Cookies and some deep conversation.

We sat right on the steps below that statue, took a mental picture and will never forget that saturday.

New Friend: Rin Tin Tin

Actually we never knew his name, but he followed Looney, the lover of all dogs, for a while on our way home. It reminded me of the dog that followed my family and I years ago when we were traveling around, Italy was it (mom can remind me later)? I don't know where we were, but I LOVED playing and running around with that dog for hours. Who knows, maybe this is him and back for round two.

Let's go to a show

We were planning on seeing Legally Blonde tonight but when we got to the theatre it was mysteriously closed. Hmmm...So our back up plan was 39 Steps. Best back up plan ever!!! It was hilarious. Loved it. 

The cast even had a Q&A afterwards so we got to meet with them after the show.

Yesterday we saw the Vienna Piano Trio perform at Wigmore Hall. It was my first piano concert ever and it was incredible. The music was amazing a bit too soothing after only 3 hours of sleep the night before though if you catch my drift.

Last week we saw Macbeth at the Globe theatre. It was....well...gruesome. A few weeks ago we saw A Mid Summer's Night Dream there as well. 
Have you ever stood and watched a play? Ya I don't recommend it. We may or may not have left early both times. But nevertheless it was a cool experience and I'm glad I went. My favorite part both times was walking out of the Globe along the Thames as the sun was setting and seeing the beautiful architecture of the city.

We've also hit up a few concerts while we've been here. We all went to see She & Him. It was awesome. 

                                             

                                                                                                                     And Claire saw Third Eye Blind a few days later!

On Friday night we saw Peter Pan. Amazing!

  

 Hopefully we will get to see at least one or two more shows before we leave!!!

To Claire Elizabeth Pingree aka the pro photog

THANK YOU!

For being the best photographer ever and documenting all the wonderful memories we are making.

For bringing your awesome camera everywhere with you and taking amazing pictures even though it is heavy and probably annoying to carry it around all the time.

For taking pictures of me so that I can prove to my friends and family that I am actually here, because I have failed to take more than about 20 pictures on my own.

For being so patient with everyone that wants you to take all sorts of different pictures or the same picture in tons of different ways and then look at them to see if they are "facebook worthy" and if they aren't taking them over and over again.

You are basically the best and I just want you know how much I appreciate YOU and your camera :)

Love,
Looney

Doppelganger found!

Staley Carter or Amanda Seyfried?

Which one is which?

*I'll give you a hint...the prettier one is Staley

Runnymede

"Welcome to the birthplace of democracy!" ~ Dr. Roger Macfarlane (aka our program director/mythology professor)

Can't you just feel the patriotism?

To find out more google Runnymede, Magna Carta, and King John

Land of the Scots

(In a Scottish accent) Miggin Looneeh here...

I have one word to describe Edinburgh. sketchy. Haha. seriously.

First of all, there are crazy, drunk or high people walking around EVERYWHERE.
Tons of beggars EVERYWHERE.
We saw a crazy street performer juggling a chain saw.
A cafe tried to rip Claire, Vic, and Jess off. luckily we caught it.

We were planning on taking a bus to the coast for dinner but the guy working at the hostel recommended that we didn't because he said, “I don’t want anyone to get stabbed.” It’s safe to say we didn’t go.

Oh and we met a new friend who took a picture for us. Well first he asked for 3 pounds for the bus. Stales and I gave in. Dang it. Because Claire later pointed out that him and his friends were holding bags of groceries. cool. luckily the picture actually turned out okay.

Highlights of the trip...

1. The train - 4 1/2 hours never went by so fast

2. The hostel - it blew the other hostels we've stayed at out of the water. it was awesome.

3. Chocolate Soup - a dessert cafe right up the street from our hostel. three words: chocolate brownie sandwich. AMazing. and yes we went every day we were there. don't worry we split it every time.

4. Chiquitos - A Mexican restaurant we went to for lunch on Tuesday. Can you say unlimited amounts of chips and salsa for FREE? After spending 4 weeks here in the UK, we forgot what that kind of Americanesque hospitality was like. 

The only problem was the FREAKING hot pepper I discovered in my salad, well actually in my mouth. Oh my gosh it was insane. I can barely handle medium salsa so basically I was dying. lets just say Claire said she's never heard me talk so fast. ever. Katelin-Jane, Jess, Staley, and Claire kept handing me all sorts of food and drink for the next ten minutes until it went away. Thank goodness for my friends :)

But that hot pepper still couldn't over shadow the joy of that Mexican food in my belly.

Random goodies

Shout out to my Papa! I had to take a picture of your cafe in the park. the color choice really suits you

Shout out to J's mama!

Edinburgh castle in the background

ps. photo credit - Claire Pingree

"Not me,

not hermione,

you Harry!

YOU!"

Well everyone, don't be jealous, but after entering platform 9 and 3/4 at King's Cross we found ourselves in the Great Hall of

Hogwartz School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

actually it was Christ Church at Oxford University but use your imagination

TEA TIME*

in the great hall

*actually it was delicious hot chocolate

After a delicious great hall experience we ran around for hours reenacting Harry's magical adventures and casting spells.

Little did we know, but Oxford university is apparently prejudice against the vision impaired. Rude.

Wingardium Leviosa,

Staley